Free Air Conditioners Available for Low-Income New Yorkers!

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo Announces Free Air Conditioners Available for Low-Income New Yorkers With Serious Medical Conditions.

The Annual Cooling Initiative, directed by Homes and Community Renewal, now offers relief for vulnerable New Yorkers during the summers record breaking heat waves.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced assistance for low-income New Yorkers whose health issues pose a medical emergency during the extended period of hot weather forecasted for the state in the coming days.

“The late spring and early summer have already brought several heat waves, which can be life-and-death matters for New Yorkers with serious medical conditions,” Governor Cuomo said. “Senior citizens and children are especially susceptible to heat-related illness, and this initiative will provide low-income homes with much-needed air conditioners so that New Yorkers have the assistance they need to stay cool and healthy.”

In order to protect vulnerable New Yorkers, New York State has set aside $3 million in funding through the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“Summer heat can be dangerous for many New Yorkers,” said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I strongly urge eligible families and seniors to take advantage of this program to help keep their homes safe and comfortable. As this heat wave moves across New York, it’s absolutely essential that seniors aren’t put at risk because they can’t afford to keep their homes cool.”

“Working with our non-profit partners across the state, we are happy to provide some relief to those needy New Yorkers with medical conditions,” said Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), which administers LIHEAP. “But if you find yourself without air conditioning and in a true heat emergency this summer, please do not wait: head to your nearest local cooling center.”

Eligibility for the program is determined by:

LIHEAP low-income guidelines. (For a four-person household, the maximum gross annual income to qualify is approximately $49,500.)

Having at least one household member who has been diagnosed with a chronic or acute medical condition which is aggravated by exposure to extreme heat situations.

A doctor providing written documentation (dated within the last six months) that air-conditioning assistance is critical to prevent a heat emergency.

Households that have a working air conditioner or have received one from the State in the last 10 years are not eligible.

The cooling program is administered by HCR with funding provided from the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) funds, through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). HCR’s network of 63 local Weatherization agencies will provide delivery and installation of cooling program services, and funds have been allocated to ensure coverage in each of the state’s 62 counties.

These agencies will accept applications, determine eligibility, and oversee the installation of the air-conditioning units. Under the terms of the grant, one air conditioner will be awarded to an eligible household or dwelling unit, with installation and labor included. Grants do not include an additional HEAP cash benefit to cover the cost of operating the air conditioning unit.

The full list of local cooling program administrators is below:

NYS Homes and Community Renewal

Emergency Cooling Program County Coverage

Subgrantee

Counties Served

Phone Number

Albany Community Action Partnership, Inc.

Albany

(518)432-4460

Albany County Cooperative Extension

Albany

(518)765-3539

Cattaraugus Community Action, Inc.

Allegany

(716)945-1041

Association for Energy Affordability, Inc.

Bronx

(718)292-6733

Bronx Shepherds Restoration Corporation

Bronx

(718)299-0500

Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Inc.

Bronx

(718)584-0515

Tioga Opportunities Program Inc.

Broome

(607)687-4222

Cattaraugus Community Action, Inc.

Cattaraugus

(716)945-1041

Cayuga-Seneca Community Action Inc.

Cayuga

(315)282-0531

Chautauqua Opportunities Inc.

Chautauqua

(716)661-9430

Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Inc.

Chemung

(607)734-0795

Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.

Chenango

(607)336-2101

Joint Cncl. for Econ. Oppor. of Clinton & Franklin Co.

Clinton

(518)561-6310

Columbia Opportunities Inc.

Columbia

(518)828-4611

Cortland County Community Action Program

Cortland

(607)753-6781

Delaware Opportunities Inc.

Delaware

(607)746-1690

Dutchess County Community Action Agency, Inc.

Dutchess

(845)452-5104

Neighborhood Housing Services of South Buffalo, Inc.

Erie, City of Buffalo

(716)837-0071

Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Svces. Ctr. of Western NY

Erie, City/Outside of City

(716)893-7222

Supportive Services Corporation

Erie, Outside of City

(716)685-6252

Adirondack Community Action Programs,Inc.

Essex

(518)873-3207

Comlinks, Inc.

Franklin

(518)483-1261

Fulmont Community Action Program

Fulton

(518)853-8359

Orleans Community Action Committee, Inc.

Genesee

(585)343-7798

Community Action of Greene County Inc.

Greene

(518)943-9205

Warren/Hamilton Counties ACEO Inc.

Hamilton

(518)793-0636

Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.

Herkimer

(315)624-9930

Community Action Planning Cncl. of Jefferson Co., Inc.

Jefferson

(315)788-4388

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Inc.

Kings

(718)638-5705

Crown Heights Jewish Community Council

Kings

(718)771-9000

Opportunity Development Associaton

Kings

(718)855-8233

Sunset Park Redevelopment Committee, Inc.

Kings

(718)492-8580

Community Environmental Center, Inc.

Kings

(718)784-1444

Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.

Lewis

(315)376-8202

Livingston County Planning Department

Livingston

(585)243-7560

Stoneleigh Housing Inc.

Madison

(315)697-3737

Action for a Better Community, Inc.

Monroe, City of Rochester

(585)442-4160

Pathstone Corporation

Monroe

(585)442-2030

Fulmont Community Action Program

Montgomery

(518)853-3011

Community Development Corp. of Long Island, Inc.

Nassau

(631)471-1215

Harlem Community Development Corporation

New York

(212)961-4100

Housing Conservation Coordinators

New York

(212)541-5996

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation

New York

(212)822-8340

Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.

Niagara

(716)285-9681

Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.

Oneida

(315)624-9930

People’s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.

Onondaga

(315)470-3315

Wayne County Action Program Inc.

Ontario

(315)483-8761

Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc.

Orange

(845)342-3978

Orleans Community Action Committee, Inc.

Orleans

(585)589-5605

People’s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.

Oswego

(315)470-3315

Opportunities for Otsego Inc.

Otsego

(607)433-0444

Westchester Community Opportunity Program Inc.

Putnam

(845)279-5533

Community Environmental Center, Inc.

Queens

(718)784-1444

Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Council, Inc. (HANAC)

Queens

(718)626-7575

Margert Community Corporation

Queens

(718)471-3724

CEO for the Greater Capital Region, Inc.

Rensselaer

(518)272-6012

Northfield Community LDC of Staten Island

Richmond

(718)442-7351

Rockland Community Development Council

Rockland

(845)352-1400

St. Lawrence County Community Development Program, Inc.

St. Lawrence

(315)386-1102

Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.

Saratoga

(518)587-3158

Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.

Schenectady

(518)587-3158

Schoharie County Community Action Program

Schoharie

(518)234-2568

Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Inc.

Schuyler

(607)734-0795

Seneca County Office for the Aging

Seneca

(315)539-4263

Pro Action of Steuben and Yates Inc.

Steuben

(607)776-2125

Community Development Corp. of Long Island, Inc.

Suffolk

(631)471-1215

CACHE, Inc.

Sullivan

(845)292-5821

Tioga Opportunities Program, Inc.

Tioga

(607)687-4222

Tompkins Community Action

Tompkins

(607)273-8816

Ulster Community Action Committee Inc.

Ulster

(845)338-8750

Warren/Hamilton Counties ACEO Inc.

Warren

(518)793-0636

Washington County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.

Washington

(518)746-2390

Wayne County Action Program Inc.

Wayne

(315)483-8761

Westchester Community Opportunity Program Inc.

Westchester

(914)375-7887

Wyoming County Community Action Inc.

Wyoming

(585)237-2600

Pro Action of Steuben and Yates Inc.

Yates

(607)776-2125

Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to local providers listed above or the NYS HEAP Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.

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